Developing Skills for Career and Life

The Augsburg Curriculum is designed to help students develop the skills necessary for successful careers and fulfilling lives, including:

Writing

Critical Thinking

Oral Communication

Information Literacy

Quantitative Literacy

Religious Literacy

Ethical Reasoning

Problem Solving

Intercultural Competence

Civic Agency and Engagement

Health and Wellness

The curriculum helps students develop these skills across the core requirements and major coursework: for example, college-level writing skills are introduced in ENL 111 (or ENL 101), reinforced in the core Liberal Arts Foundation courses, and mastered within the context of a student’s major. Other components of the Augsburg core curriculum embed these skills: for example, modern language courses not only teach language skills but also develop students’ intercultural competence; courses in natural sciences and mathematics emphasize applied quantitative reasoning; and the first-year seminars and Augsburg Experience requirements develop students’ skills of civic engagement. For details about particular requirements, consult the Registrar’s page.

To best serve our students, we evaluate their skills prior to matriculation or during the first semester on campus in the following areas:

Mathematics

Modern Languages

Writing

See Academic Advising for more detailed information about when, where and how to complete these assessments.

To read more about the key skills employers want in new hires, read “It Takes More Than a Major,” compiled by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU.)

Augsburg’s Strommen Center for Meaningful Work provides a host of opportunities to help students hone, articulate and apply their skills through internships, mentoring relationships, resume workshops, and much more.

Specific Core Skills Requirements

Developmental Courses

For a strong start in college, some students qualify for developmental course work (GST 100, ENL 101, MAT 103, and MAT 105.) These courses must be completed by the end of the fourth term at Augsburg (for incoming first-year students.) Transfer students must complete the courses by the end of their third term.

Effective Writing

Excellent writing skills are more important than ever. Students are required to pass ENL 111 (Effective Writing) or the equivalent with a grade of 2.0, P, or higher. Students must complete ENL 111 by the end of their sophomore year, since it provides the foundation for all other college-level writing. Transfer students must complete it by the end of their third term.

Modern Language

The ability to speak another language provides an important gateway into other cultures. Students must complete one year of college-level study of a modern foreign language with a minimum grade of 2.0/P. Those students who have previously studied another language should take the placement exams (see above.) Students who place at 112 (Beginning Language 2) need only one more language course. Students who place at 211 (Intermediate Level 1) or above have completed the modern language requirement. No additional classes are required, although students are encouraged to pursue additional language study.

Students who have demonstrated competence in American Sign Language by passing an approved course sequence will have fulfilled the Modern Language Core Skill.

Students whose first language is not English and whose score is below the minimum on the ESL placement test must fulfill the English as a Second Language (ESL) requirement. The requirement is satisfied by successfully completing the ESL course(s) and achieving a score above the minimum on the ESL placement exam. Students who complete the ESL requirement fulfill the Modern Language Core Skill requirement. Contact Academic Advising or the English Department for additional information.

Health and Wellness

Two lifetime fitness courses are required. HPE 001 Foundations of Fitness (or a transfer equivalent) is required of all students. The second course may be chosen from a variety of different lifetime activities (HPE 002, Lifetime Activity courses). Students who are not health and physical education majors or intercollegiate athletes may test out of one lifetime activity course. Students may demonstrate proficiency from a selected list of lifetime activities. There is a fee to take the lifetime activity proficiency test.

Foundations of Fitness courses are non-credit courses and are not included in the 128 semester credit graduation requirement.